Which Do You Use - Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags

I'm a wrapping paper kind of girl for sure. My husband and I make a night of it, usually when the kiddo is at Grandma and Grandpas. A couple of glasses of wine, something nice on the telly, and a truckload of presents and wrapping paper.

 

This is very sweet.

We do a really constrained xmas for everyone compared to a lot of couples I know our age. For the kids there are three gifts under the tree for each: one from Santa (under $20, something like a bike helmet or a small toy), one from us (can be a larger gift, this year it's a doll house for my daughter and a hotwheels race track thing for my son), and a craft kit. Other than that, they get their stocking. I typically put an item of clothing and some little things in that, like ornaments, to fill it up. And an orange in the toe.

The husband and I do gifts for each other, but we limit to 5 or less, by request, and most fit in stockings. This year I asked for a necklace made by a local artist, a new heating pad for the bed, a hot sauce collection, a book, and if he can't find one of those things, a set of silverware I've been collecting. He asked for some summer appropriate hats (not the big ticket items many fellows on here get, but Orvis quality) as he recently had a bout with skin cancer. I got him some little things for his stocking, but many are practical and not fancy... like the pair of kitchen shears I picked up for him today! (We had a pair break earlier this year.)

I read an article the other day and it was on "how to make your kid a minimalist" and it recommended that you limit your gifts from Santa to three and budget under $300 per kid from Santa. Who knew we were ultra minimalists?

 

Goodness, I don't think we spent more than $300 total this year, for 6 people!